There is a version of Vermont everyone knows.

Covered bridges.

Perfect little villages.

Busy October weekends.

And then there's the part of Vermont that feels like you accidentally found it.

The Northeast Kingdom.

Way up in the northeastern corner of the state, this is where I'd go when I wanted a fall weekend that felt less like sightseeing and more like disappearing.

The Northeast Kingdom is one of the first areas of Vermont to turn each fall.

And right now, it is already happening.

Vermont's official foliage report says the Northeast Kingdom currently has some of the state's strongest color, with red maples turning scarlet and sugar maples and ash trees showing off shades of orange and yellow.

But the color isn't the only reason to go.

It's the landscape around it.

Forest-covered hills.

Quiet lakes.

Gravel roads.

Tiny towns.

And long stretches where you can drive without feeling like you're following everyone else's itinerary.

This is the stop I'd build the weekend around.

Lake Willoughby is a long, narrow lake surrounded by steep mountains, and in fall the combination of water, cliffs and changing forest is pretty spectacular.

Walk along the lake.

Take the scenic roads around it.

Find a quiet place to sit.

Then keep driving.

You don't need to turn it into an all-day attraction.

The whole point is the feeling of being there.

One of my favorite things about this part of Vermont is that you don't have to be a serious hiker to enjoy it.

Take a short trail.

Walk through the woods.

Stop at a viewpoint.

Or simply find a dirt road and see where it takes you.

If you want a bigger outdoor day, the region has plenty of hiking and biking, while places like Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury offer another kind of outdoor experience with 150 acres of trails, meadows and mountain views.

For the full experience, I'd stay somewhere where you can actually see the landscape around you.

The Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville sits on more than 300 acres on Darling Hill, with views across the countryside.

And there's a very good reason to consider going midweek.

The inn describes late September through mid-October as its favorite fall period, when the roads are quieter and the hills are glowing with color.

For something closer to the mountains, Burke Mountain Hotel puts you right in the Burke area, with fall hiking and mountain biking nearby. The hotel itself sits mid-mountain with views toward the surrounding landscape.

Here's how I'd spend three days.

Day one: Drive.

Don't rush.

Take the back roads. Stop whenever the scenery makes you want to.

Day two: Get outside.

Hike around Lake Willoughby. Walk through the woods. Find a farm stand. Have a long lunch.

Then do absolutely nothing for a while.

Day three: Coffee, a slow breakfast and one last drive before heading home.

That's it.

No packed itinerary.

No race to see every famous fall attraction.

Just a few days of mountains, color, fresh air and enough quiet to actually feel like you went somewhere.

Maybe because fall doesn't need much entertainment.

Give me a lake surrounded by mountains.

A dirt road covered in leaves.

A small town.

A warm drink.

A place to sleep where I can wake up and see the trees.

And a whole day ahead with nowhere I need to be.

That's the kind of fall weekend I'm looking for.

Until Monday's next Weekend Find,

Wander & Reset